Book Review: ‘The 5 a.m. Club’ by Robin Sharma

In a world that seems to increasingly embrace hustle culture, it's no surprise the concept of waking up early to do more has gained attention. “The 5 a.m. Club,” a book by Robin Sharma, is a guide for people seeking to harness the power of early mornings. But how does it stack up to other self-help resources?

Let’s explore the book’s key ideas and insights and examine its effectiveness as a tool for personal transformation.

The ‘The 5 a.m. Club’ promise

“The 5 a.m. Club” promises to be a life-changing guide and provide readers with a blueprint for success by cultivating a morning routine that starts at 5 a.m.

The central idea is that by dedicating the first hour of the day to personal growth, we can unlock our full potential, achieve goals, and lead a more fulfilling life. Sharma claims that adhering to the principles outlined in the book can lead to profound personal transformation.

“The 5 a.m. Club” sets itself apart from other books in the genre because of its allegorical story, which some readers may appreciate. Rather than write directly to his audience about his core ideas, Sharma uses characters and dialogue among them to relay ideas.

This is a great idea that works at times and doesn’t at others. At its worst, “The 5 a.m. Club’s” characters talk ad-nauseum about core concepts as if they were reading from a textbook or lecturing in a classroom. At its best, the characters do help engage reader interest a bit.

However, the allegory lacks substantive character or plot development, so if you’re considering this book to read a good story, look elsewhere. If you’d like to ponder some ideas about boosting your productivity while occasionally being mildly entertained by a story, the book might work for you.

‘The 5 a.m. Club’ core concepts

“The 5 a.m. Club” relays a handful of core concepts that can be easily summarized, so if you don’t feel like reading 336 pages read the next 200 or so words instead. 

The five-Step Morning Routine: The book outlines a five-step morning routine that aligns with the 20/20/20 formula, which is explained in more depth below.

  1. Sensational Sunrise: This step involves rising early and starting your day with the sunrise to align with the body's natural circadian rhythms.

  2. Morning Mastery: Use the first 20 minutes for exercise, followed by 20 minutes of reflection and journaling, and then 20 minutes of learning and self-improvement.

  3. The Victory Hour: The Victory Hour is the first hour of your day when you commit to personal growth and set the tone for success.

  4. Multiple Mentors: Sharma encourages learning from various mentors, including books, podcasts, and people who inspire. We should expand knowledge and perspective through diverse sources.

  5. The 60/10 Method: This method involves working intensely for 60 minutes and then taking 10-minute breaks. This cycle helps maintain focus and productivity throughout the day.

The 20/20/20 Formula: At the heart of “The 5 A.M. Club” is the 20/20/20 formula, which pertains to the first hour of the day starting at, you guessed it, 5 a.m.

Using this formula, the first 20 minutes of the morning are dedicated to exercise, which not only boosts physical health but also enhances mental clarity. The next 20 minutes are devoted to reflection and journaling, helping set clear intentions for the day. The last 20 minutes are for learning and self-improvement, allowing those who practice this routine to acquire new skills or knowledge.

The Four Interior Empires: Sharma introduces the concept of Four Interior Empires, which he lays out as Mindset, Heartset, Healthset, and Soulset. These areas for reflection and growth represent the different facets of a person’s well-being and are interconnected.

By nurturing each empire through specific practices and rituals, Sharma argues that individuals can achieve holistic growth.

The Twin Cycles of Elite Performance: Sharma explores the concept of dual cycles—the “Monk” cycle and the “Brahmin” cycle. The Monk cycle represents focused, deep work, while the Brahmin cycle emphasizes rejuvenation, self-care, and renewal. By balancing these cycles, one can optimize productivity and creativity.

What I liked about ‘The 5 a.m. Club’

Even with its flaws—namely being too long and having a not-great story at its core—“The 5 a.m. Club” is still a motivational book. Sharma's writing includes anecdotes, quotes, and stories that encourage readers to think, take action, and pursue their dreams.

The idea of starting the day with purpose is compelling, and at times Sharma relays insights that ring true as inspired. I highlighted quite a bit while reading the book, but would have preferred if the book was shorter.

“The 5 a.m. Club” also offers practical strategies and actionable steps to try the 20/20/20 formula and develop morning routines. Sharma provides templates and exercises that can help readers structure mornings and experiment with his core ideas.

Another of the book’s strengths is its holistic approach to personal development. It recognizes that success encompasses more than professional achievements and emphasizes the importance of well-being, emotional intelligence, and spirituality.

Things I didn’t like about ‘The 5 a.m. Club’

As alluded to above, the allegory is a clever idea, but it’s poorly executed. At its best, it helps pull readers through the ideas Sharma presents for a few pages at a time, and at its worst those ideas are presented as boring monologues from single characters who don’t have clear stakes.

Not related to the story, but related to writing and editing of this book, I found the book’s core concepts were repeated excessively. While the repetition helped reinforce key ideas, the book felt excessive and could easily have been condensed.

To the substantive ideas Sharma presents, the 5 a.m. wake-up time may work for some, but it certainly isn’t suitable for everyone. The book's rigid adherence to this specific time—or even every mornings in general—could discourage those who have different work or life schedules, or chronotypes, from exploring its principles. This simply won’t work for everyone.

Finally, a number of critics have also argued that the book lacks scientific backing. While anecdotal evidence can be powerful, some readers may be skeptical of the book’s assertions without more substantial empirical support. It could have, and if so should have, been footnoted to add credibility.  

A polarizing book with some good advice

“The 5 a.m. Club” is a polarizing book. A quick survey of online reviews shows that many readers found the relatively weak story and lack of scientific citations to be deal breakers, but I think Sharma offers some genuine pearls of wisdom that rang true for me.

As with any book in the self-help genre, there are pieces and parts that apply to a wide range of people in a variety of circumstances. This is to say that I don’t view Sharma’s strict formula as something that needs to be copied exactly to reap results, and the simple act of reading his book helped me think about habits I can foster and goals I can set to improve my personal and professional life.

For those seeking inspiration, motivation, and a structured approach that could help enhance their lives, this book can serve as a resource. However, it's important to approach Sharma’s ideas with an open mind and recognize that the path to self-improvement is highly personal and may require adjustments to fit one’s unique circumstances and preferences.

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